Mechanical poker for gas-furnaces



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

. ARMISON. MBCHANIG oKER Fon GAS PURNAGBS.

No. 593,546. Patented Nov. 9, 1897.

WE1, s e l, Zuf ed; @y

l amys.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

L. ARMISON.

MECHANICAL POKER POR GAS FURNAGBS.

No. 593,546. Patented Nov. 9, 1897.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

Y L. ARMISON. MECHANICAL POKER PoR GAS FURNAGES,

(No Model.) 4 sneetsv-'sneet 4.. L. ARMISON. MECHANICAL POKER POR GAS PURNAGES. No. 593,546.

Patented Nov l ,-Zn vengar.'

agi-briefs.

(P5K/M awk UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEVARTT RMISON, OF BUFFALO, NEV YORK.

MECHANICAL POKER FOR GAS-FURNACES.

SPECIFCATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 593,546, dated November 9, 1897.

Application filed June 27, 1895. Renewed March 16, 1897. Serial No. 627,893. (No model.)

To all whom, t may concern;

Be it known that I, LEVARTT ARMIsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented a new and Vuseful Improvement in Mechanical Pokers for Gas-Furnaces, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to mechanism which is more particularly designed for operating a poking implement in a gas-furnace for breaking up the bridges or arches which are liable to be formed in such furnaces, and also for compacting the fuel to prevent air from passing too freely through the same.

My invention has for its object to provide an effective mechanical poker of this character which is operated automatically and in a reliable manner.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of four sheets, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a cupola or gas furnace provided with my improvement. Fig. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the operating mechanism with a portion thereof broken away to expose subjacent parts. Fig. 3 is an enlarged horizontal section of the clutch and reversing mechanism of one of the drum-shafts. Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the guide which cooperates with the reversible follower of the clutch. Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section, on an enlarged scale, in line 5 5, Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation of one of the clutch-wheels and its driving-gear. Fig. 7 is a transverse section inline 7 7, Fig. 3. l

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

A is a cupola or gas furnace of any ordinary construction. A

B represents one or more pokers arranged within the fireplace of the furnace and adapted to be dropped at intervals upon the bedv of fuel in the furnace for agitating and compaoting the same and breaking up any arch or bridge that may be formed by the fuel. These pokers consist of comparatively heavy weights having preferably the form of balls, as shown in Fig. 1. In the drawings a number of such pokerballs are shown, and as the operating devices of the several balls arealike a description of one will apply to all.

C represents a horizontal drum arranged at the top of the cupola and secured to a horizontal shaft c, which is journaled in bearings formed in standards D and in the sides of a housing D', which incloses the drum. These standards rise .from a base-plate D2, resting on the top of the cupola.

E is a chain or cable which is wound upon the drum O and from which the poker-ball is suspended.

fis a ratchet-wheel secured to the drumshaft, and f a detent-pawl pivoted to the baseplate or other stationary support and adapted to engage with said ratchet-wheel for holding the drum temporarily against backward rotation and preventing the descent of the ball. This pawl is held in engagement with the ratchet-wheel by a spring f2.

g is a horizontal detent-releasing shaft arranged above tlie drum, as shown in Fig. 5, and supported in bearings arranged on the housing D', and g is a cam secured to said shaft and adapted to operate against the free upperv portion of the detent-pawl f once during every revolution of said shaft, so as to disengage the pawl from the ratchet-wheel of the drum-shaft and release the drum, thereby allowing the weight to descend and unwind its supporting-chain from the drum.

g2 is a toothed or star wheel which is secured to the releasing-shaft g and which is turned intermittently by a rotary arm or tappet h, having a projecting pin or roller h', which engages with the teeth of the starwheel. This tappet is mounted on a countershaft h2, supported on the housing D. An intermittent rotary movement is imparted to the counter-shaft h2 by a ratchet-wheel h3, secured thereto, and an actuating-pawl h4, engaging with said wheel and carried by an oscillating arm h5, whichis pivoted upon the counter-shaft. This oscillating arm is actucentric e' and connecting-rod i', having a strap which embraces the eccentric,as shown in Fig. 5. The main driving-shaft is arranged horizontally above the releasing-shaft g and is continuously driven from any. available sou-roe, said shaft being provided with a drivingwheel l.

By the mechanism just described the counter-shaft h2 is turned forward the distance of one tooth of its ratchet-wheel during every rotation of the main shaft, and the pawl-reated from the main driving-shaft I by an ec-v IOO leasing shaft, through the medium of the starT wheel and the tappet ofthe shaft 71,2, isturned forward the distance of one tooth of the starwheel during every complete turn of the counter-shaft. The cam of the releasing-shaft disengages the detent-pawl from the ratchetwheel of the drum once during every rotation of said shaft, and as soon as said cam clears the detent the latter is again forced into engagement with the ratchet-wheel by its spring.

As soon as the descending poker-ball strikes' K represents radially-movable cl utch-shoes connected with the drum-shaft and adapted tol bearagainst the inner side of the rim of the. clutch-wheel J, so as to compel the shaft to,

turn with the wheel. These shoes consist of two segmental or semicircular sections which are guided on radial arms It, secured tothe drum-shaft by means of ahub-or sleeve 7a', as shown ill Figs. 3 and 6. The clutch-shoes are expanded and contracted by rotary right and left hand screws kwhich engage in correspondingly-screw-threaded sockets formed in the opposing ends of the shoes. Each of these screws has an arm 7a3 for turning it.

l is a reciprocating collar arrangedy to slide ject forwardly from the rear cross-head of the on, the sleeve 7o', and Z represents linkswhich connect the outer ends of thescrew-operating arms 7c3 with` said collar, so that by the for ward movement of the collar the arms are caused to turn the screws in the proper direction to move the shoes outward into-contact with the clutch-wheel, while by the backward movement of the collar the screws are tu-rned in the opposite direction and the shoes are withdrawn from the clutch-wheel.

M is a screw-nut or follower which is` actuated by the rotation of the drum-shaft and which is adapted to v.shift the clutch-collar Z forward for applying the clutch-shoes` and rcversing the movement of the drum. This screw-nut or follower engages with an externaljly-screw-threaded portion m of the d-rumshaft and is held against turning.,r thereonby an arm m', extending downwardly from the follower and sliding in a longitudinal guide or way m2, supported on an arm m3 of the basefplate. This guide compels the follower to traverse the screw-threaded portion of the drum-shaft in'one or the other direction, according to the direction in which the latter turns. The trend of the screw-thread of the shaft is such that the. follower is moved to.-

ward the clutch-collar bythe backward or unwinding movement of the drum and away from said collar by the forward or winding movement of the same.

'n is a cushioning-spring which bearswhereby the clutch-shoes are applied to the clutch-wheel and the drum -shaft is thrown into gear with the latter, thus reversing its movement. i

o o o2 represent a horizontal shifting frame or yoke connected with the clutch-collar and adapted to shift the collar backward at the moment the Apoker-ball has been suciently elevated by the reverse motion of the drum, so as to again throw the drum-shaft out of gear with the clutch-wheel and allow it to remain at rest until it is again released by its deteut-pawl. This shifting frame consists of front and rear cross-heads o 0',.which are ari ranged to slide upon the portions of the drum- Vshaft immediately in front and in rear of its external screw-thread and which are connected by tie-rods 02. These rods preferably pass loosely through openings formed in the follower M, as shown in Fig. 3, The front cross-head 0 is formed centrally with an annular opening which receives. the clutch-collar and is confined between shoulders. o3,

formed on the latter, so4 as to compel the clutch-collar to move rearward with the shifting frame, while allowing the collar to` turn in its front cross-head. Y

1J 'represents adjustable stops, which pro-` shifting frame and againstwhich the follower M is adapted to, bear whenl it is. moved rearward by the forward rotation of the drumshaft, thereby sliding the shifting frame in the same direction and causing itto move the clutch-collarin the proper direction toV release the clutch-shoes. A cushioning-spring q is preferably arranged on the front side of the rear cross-head of the shifting frame forl 1'e ceiving the impact of the follower. The cushioning-springs n andq also serve to suddenly accelerate the shifting movement of the clutch-collar as soon as the links Z pass the dead-center, thus eecting the movements of the clutch-shoes quickly and reversing and stopping the drum promptly.

The operation of my improved mechanical poker is asy follows: In the normal operation of the parts the poker-supporting chain is;

wound uponthe drum, The latter is held against turning by its detent-pawl, and the drum-shaft is out of gear with the reversing mechanism. As soon as. the intermittentlyrotating cam of the releasin g-shaft disengages.

the detent-pawl from the ratchet-wheel of the drum-shaft the latter is turned backward by IIO the unwinding of the chain caused by the dropping of the poker-ball. The backward rotation of the drum in unwinding the chain causes the follower M of the clutch to be fed toward the clutch-collar, and immediately after the poker-weight has struck the fuel the follower comes in contact withsaid collar and shifts it forward, thereby applying the clutchshoes and causing the movement of the drum to be reversed, whereby the4 chain is wound upon the drum and the poker-ball is elevated preparatory to being again dropped. This reverse motion of the drum-shaft causes the follower to be fed in the opposite direction or toward the rear cross-head of the clutchshifting frame, and at the moment that the chain is sufficiently wound upon the drum the follower comes in contact with the stops p of the shifting frame and moves the latter outward, .thereby shifting the clutch-collar in the same direction,disconnecting the drumshaft from the clutch-wheel, and preventing its further rotation. Vhen the detent-pawl of the drum is again disengaged, these operations are repeated, the poker-ball being thus elevated and dropped alternately by the automatic action of the clutch and the reversing mechanism. The relative movements of the parts are so timed that the detent-pawl is allowed to move into position for engaging with the ratchet-wheel of the drum by the time that the poker-ball is raised, so as to prevent retrograde movement of the drum and hold the ball in its elevated position. Vhen a number of poker-balls are employed, their operating-drums are mounted on separate shafts, and each shaft has an independent clutch and reversing mechanism, as shown in the drawings, but only one releasing mechanism is required for disengaging the detentpawls of the several drums. In the drawings four poker-balls and drums are shown. Two of the drum-shafts are driven directly from the main shaft by sprocket wheels and chains, while the other drum-shafts are likewise driven from a counter-shaft 12, which is in' turn driven from the main shaft by gearwheels I3 It, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. The detent-pawls of one pair of drums are released by two cams mounted onthe shaft g, while the detent-pawls of the other two drums are released by similar cams mounted on a counter-shaft g3, which is driven from the main releasing-shaft g by gear-wheels g4 ,(5. Then such a series of poker-balls is employed, the releasing-cams are located at different quarters of their respective shafts, so that the several balls are dropped successively and at regular intervals, say, of about two minutes.

Myim proved mechanism, though especially useful for the purpose herein described and shown, may also be employed in pile-drivers and other machines in whicha weight is alternately elevated and dropped.

I claim as my inventionl.. In a mechanical poker, the combination Y with a main driving-shaft, of a rotary drum,

a chain or cable wound thereon and carrying a poker or weight, a detent for holding the drum against backward rotation, an automatic releasing device operating upon said detent and actuated from the main drivingshaft, and automatic reversing mechanism controlled by the rotation of the drum-shaft whereby the drum is turned forwardly for winding up the chain and raising said weight, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with a rotary drum, a chain or cable wound thereon and a weight suspended from the chain, of a detent for holding the drum against backward rotation,

a releasing device whereby said detent is disengaged from the drum, a driving-wheel rotating in the direction in which the drum turns in winding the chain thereon, a clutch whereby the drum-shaft is thrown into gear with said driving-wheel, and an automatic shifting device actuated from the rotating drum, whereby said clutch is operated, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with a rotary drum having an externally-screw-threaded shaft, a chain or cable wound thereon and a weight suspended from the chain, of a detent for holding the drum against backward rotation, a releasing device whereby said detent is disengaged from the drum, a driving-wheel rotating in the direction in which the drum turns in winding the chain thereon, a clutch whereby the drum-shaft is thrown into gear with said driving-wheel, and a screw-nut or follower engaging with 'the screw-thread of the drum-shaft and operating said clutch, substantially as set forth.

Lt. The combination with a rotary drum having an externally-screw-threaded shaft, a chain or cable wound thereon and a weight suspended from the chain, of a detent for holding the drum against backward rotation,

a releasing device whereby said detent is disengaged from the drum, a driving-wheel rotating in the direction in which the drum turns in winding the chain thereon, a clutch whereby the drum-shaft is thrown into gear with said driving-wheel, a shifting frame connected with the actuating-collar of said clutch,

IOO

IIO

and a screw-nut or follower engaging with the screw-thread of the drum shaft and adapted to operate alternately against said shifting frame and the actuating-collar of the clutch, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination with a rotary drum having an externally screw threaded shaft, a chain or cable wound thereon and a weight suspended from the chain, of a detent for holding the drum against backward rotation, a releasing device whereby said detent is disengaged from the drum, a driving-wheel rotating in the direction in which the drum turns in winding the chain thereon, a clutch whereby the drum-shaft is thrown into gear with said driving-wheel, a shifting frame connected with the actuating-collar of said clutch,

a screw-nut or follower engaging with the screw-thread of the drum-shaft and adapted to operate alternately against said shifting frame 'and the actuating-Collar of the clutch, and cushioning-springs interposed between .said follower and the shifting frame and clutch-collar, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination With a rotary drum, a chain or cable Wound thereon, and a weight suspended from the chain, of a detent for holding the drum againstbackward rotation, an intermittently-rotating releasing-shaft having a cam adapted to operate against said detent, a driving-Wheel rotating in the direction in which the drum turns in Winding the chain thereon, a clutch whereby the drumshaft is thrown into gear with said drivingwheel, and an automatic shifting device aetnated from the drum whereby said clutch is operated, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination with a rotary drum, a

chain or cable wound thereon, and a weight suspended from the chain, of a detent for holding the drum against backward rotation, a releasing-shaft having a toothed actuatingwheel and a cam adapted to engage against said detent, a counter-shaft having a tappet engaging with the toothed wheel of the releasing-shaft, a ratchet device whereby said counter-shaft is intermittently rotated, a driving-wheel rotating in the direction in which the drum turns in winding the chain thereon,a cl ntch for throwing the drum-shaft into gear with said driving-Wheel, and an automatic shifting device actuated from the 35 drum and operating said clutch, substantially as set forth. v

Vitness my hand this 3d day of June, 1895.

LEVARTT ARMISON. lVitnesses:

THEO. L. PoPP, JNO. J. BONNER. 

